KJ-2000

KJ-2000 is a Chinese domestic-built Airborne Early Warning and Control system (AWACS) based on the Russian-made Beriev A-50.

Program

The program started after the cancellation of the A-50I deal with Israel and Russia in July 2000 due to strong U.S. pressure and interference. The Chinese then went on to developing their own AWACS, and the first aircraft made her maiden flight in 2003. Four aircraft have been identified so far. Production of new aircraft will likely be delayed, as it depends on the acquisition of more IL-76 airframes from Russia in the future. Currently, the Russian defense exporter Rosoboronexport has imposed a significant price hike on all future IL-76s delivered to China and India despite previous contract. Both countries are currently in negotiation with Russia regarding this matter as of early 2008. Because of the unreliable foreign supplier source, China had developed a backup known as the KJ-200 by installing the entire system on board the Shaanxi Y-8, and this aircraft has a similar configuration like that of the KJ-2000, and the platform is characterized by the triple tail configuration (one large and two small).

The current KJ-2000 AWACS in Chinese service is equipped with a domestic Active Electronically Scanned Array active phased array radar system similar to the Swedish Ericsson Erieye radar. The radar is designed by the Research Institute of Electronic Technology (also more commonly known as the 14th Institute) at Nanjing, and it utilizes the experience gained from the 14th Institute's earlier indigenously developed Type H/LJG-346 SAPARS (Shipborne Active Phased Array Radar System) that was completed in 1998 (the same Type H/LJG-346 SAPARS was also the predecessor of the active phased array radar system onboard PLAN Lanzhou class destroyer). The Chinese Government has claimed that the domestic radar is superior to the Israeli radar, and that it can track more targets at a greater range. The radar is arranged in the same way as that of A-50I.

Possible Crash

On June 3, 2006, a Chinese AWACS plane crashed in Anhui, with about 40 personnel being lost, most of them radio experts. It was confirmed to be the KJ-200 based on the Shaanxi Y-8, carring an AESA radar nicknamed "Balance Beam" similar in configuration to the Swedish ERIEYE.

References

[http://www.sinodefence.com/airforce/specialaircraft/kj2000.asp KJ-2000 AIRBORNE WARNING & CONTROL SYSTEM]